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West lifted in fifth

Sean West became the second Marlins starter in the series to get shaken up and not be able to complete five innings.

While running the bases in the fourth inning, West stumbled and rolled his right ankle while touching first, and he fell a few feet beyond the bag. The incident occurred after he tapped a ground ball to shortstop Anderson Hernandez. But Hernandez didn’t throw to first base, instead he tossed Cody Ross out trying to advance from second base to third.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez and assistant trainer Mike Kozak headed toward West, who convinced them he was fine. But in the bottom of the fifth inning, West exited after facing two batters and not recording an out. West’s first pitch of the inning struck pinch-hitter Wilson Valdez. After Angel Pagan’s double, West was replaced by Burke Badenhop.

West insists he is fine, and he is slated to make his next start on Tuesday at St. Louis.

“That was just a pitcher running the bases right there,” West said. “I was watching the play unfold at third base. I wasn’t watching where I was going, and I just caught the corner of the bag. It startled me at first. I got up and I was fine. It’s just a little embarrassing, but I’m fine.”

The conditions weren’t ideal on Thursday, as a light rain began to fall in the fourth inning.

On Tuesday night in the series opener, Rick VandenHurk also exited after four innings due to stiffness in his back.

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